Casting Shadows

Runeslinger
  • 5.0 (2)
  • GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Runeslinger's podcast about roleplaying games, acting, reacting and interacting with the alchemy of play~ Visit the Casting Shadows blog at https://castingshadowsblog.com Visit us on YouTube at https://youtube.com/runeslinger or search for @Runeslinger For TwiXter, BlueSky, and Facebook: @Runeslinger Do you use Discord? Try me at Runeslinger#7592 Contact me via Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/CastingShadowsPodcast

  1. 6D AGO

    On the idea of a "Better Game"

    This episode is another review of a post from the Casting Shadows blog, though this time the Wayback Machine is just taking us five short years (and a few decades of observation and experience) into the past. This time we look at a post based on the increasingly narrowing rhetoric around the technique of the Session 0 which tries to restore the balance required in that technique for long-term play. This time, the full post is presented before I get into any commentary from the present of the time of recording. Among the things in that commentary is a link to an earlier video on the same theme, but slightly different topic. It is linked below and is called Theories & Practices. It's almost a rant. One of two I may have recorded in all my time sharing RPG ideas. LINKS: A friend of the show, Patrick Mullen, on his Processing GURPS blog has recently referenced the Can I make my game better post in a post of his own about his process of setting up a new campaign. I think we need many such examples of the great variety of approaches and needs we gamers have and so I share the link here: Zero Hour Theories & Practices video mentioned in the episode. This video was recorded in 2014 in response to an uptick in extreme views in the regular cyclical confrontation between preferences between 'Just play!' and 'Elitist Theory instead of play!' ⁠ Can I make my game better?⁠ blog post on Casting Shadows CONTACT: Leave a voice message via ⁠⁠SpeakPipe⁠⁠ https://speakpipe.com/castingshadowspodcast.com Seek me out on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/runeslinger.bsky.social Visit the written blog https://castingshadowsblog.com Check out other episodes of this podcast https://castingshadowspodcast.com Still using e-mail? runescastshadows AT gmail

    29 min

  2. DEC 13

    On what might be in a name, and Listener Calls

    This episode includes a call from Jason Connerley in regard to the episode with the Arcane Alienist about RPGs and memory, and then sets the Wayback Machine for 2010 and a fresh look at an old post called By any other name~ LINKS: Weird Studies Podcast Homepage -Episode on Dungeons & Dragons, or the Reality of Illusions Nerds RPG Variety Cast Arcane Alienist Podcast By Any Other Name blog post on Casting Shadows CONTACT: Leave a voice message via ⁠SpeakPipe⁠ https://speakpipe.com/castingshadowspodcast.com Seek me out on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/runeslinger.bsky.social Visit the written blog https://castingshadowsblog.com Check out other episodes of this podcast https://castingshadowspodcast.com Still using e-mail? runescastshadows AT gmail

    20 min

  3. DEC 6

    Biting Bullets with Jason Hobbs

    For this episode, I am joined by the host of the seemingly lapsed Hobbs and Friends, and the sadly sporadic Random Screed, by the Mr. Hobbs of Mr. Hobbs' Gamerhood: Jason Hobbs. He and I dive into some core elements of his recent foray into game writing with his release 'Bite the Bullet' which you can obtain PWYW on itch.io or DriveThruRPG. The game, a western-themed RPG based on Into the Odd, puts a tight focus on who the character is and what they will do to get what they want. We dig into that, and some of the approaches we might take to playing it in this discussion. Relevant Links: Random Screed Nerds RPG Variety Cast Roleplay Rescue Godless Cole & Hitch Series Spenser Spenser for Hire CONTACT: Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe https://speakpipe.com/castingshadowspodcast.com Seek me out on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/runeslinger.bsky.social Visit the written blog https://castingshadowsblog.com Check out other episodes of this podcast https://castingshadowspodcast.com Still using e-mail? runescastshadows AT gmail

    58 min

  4. OCT 26

    A Friendly and Impossible chat with RPG Sean~

    THIS IS THE FULL, UNABRIDGED CONVERSATION. Sean Kelley now host of the  @RPGSean  channel joins me for a natural discussion of seemingly tough topic: long-form and campaign play of cosmic horror RPGs. Drawing on experiences in our own play, using our own material, and such fantastic and lengthy campaigns as Impossible Landscapes and Masks of Nyarlathotep, we cruise through some core ideas, some foundational practices, and some notions of goal-setting, which might help alleviate some of that sense of impossibility~Relevant Links:Podcasts Mentioned in this Discussion:Gaming and BS Podcast - https://gamingandbs.com/GM Mastermind Podcast - https://gmmastermind.com/GoBag Podcast - https://www.gobagpod.com/Casting Shadows Podcast - https://castingshadowspodcast.comNerds RPG Variety Cast - https://open.spotify.com/show/4oPnUnwitpUqn9saEkFaNf?si=d135e19f4dc84e18Noteworthy Products mentioned herein:Call of Cthulhu - https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/Masks of NyarlathotepDelta Green - https://shop.arcdream.com/Impossible LandscapesThe Annotated King in YellowActual Play Playlists mentioned as examples:Impossible Landscapeshttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjzDW-FxA6k6oO9FbdREujogKfxkeVc68&si=4wGhQyoalNQDenBTTurn of a New Leafhttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZfuKgeD5fl7Rom3q-Mj0HMXGo-XL6XuE&si=gtBBCsPHUhp26sVINotes:An abridged but helpfully annotated version of this conversation with Sean is also available on my YouTube channel. The ink to that episode is here: https://youtu.be/o55hwQ1PKH8If you would like to leave a voice message about this episode or any of the others, you can do so at the link below:https://www.speakpipe.com/castingshadowspodcast.com

    1h 27m

  5. OCT 18

    On Memory and RPGs, featuring Arcane Alienist

    This is an OctOSR-adjacent episode. Thanks go out to BJ Boyd, the Arcane Alienist, for being a guest on this episode to help frame and execute a discussion on the nature of memory and some key ways that can affect our play and understanding of RPGs. You can find BJ's podcast at the link below: The Arcane Alienist For more RPG investigations, visit the Casting Shadows blog Watch Annotated Actual Plays, RPG discussions and debates, product overviews, and practical tips for playing and running RPGs on YouTube Leave a voice message for the podcast via Speakpipe LINKS relevant to this episode: Things Gamers Say... Things Gamers Imagine... On the Caller in Early RPGs An interesting and relevant link suggested by Jason Connerley of the Nerds RPG Variety Cast comes from SpectreVision Radio:Episode 6: Dungeons & Dragons, or the Reality of Illusions

    1 hr

  6. OCT 5

    Is Immersion Impossible? A Friendly, Abridged Discussion~

    This is an abridged version of a long overdue conversation with Scott Welker, long-time gamer and successful game designer with titles based in Savage Worlds, D20, Year Zero, and soon a system of his own making. Scott is one half of Thieves Guild Gaming. Our conversation is a full on, open-minded examination about focused attention in RPGs - otherwise known colloquially but ambiguously and unhelpfully as immersion. You can watch the full conversation, with its load of annotations and notes, on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LdqytLSQd9o Scott likes to say "Immersion is impossible!" We get into what he means by that. I, as you know, Dear Listener, like to say that immersion, like so many other things, is frequently misunderstood. We get into that, too. For added value, one way we explore the topic is through Scott's games and how they were written. Useful links:Thieves Guild Games on DTRPG, has just launched a public beta of their new OPENSIX system and are looking for feedback. As a system, it is directly relevant to this discussion. The game is currently PWYW and can be found here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/524225/opensix-zero-edition-take-back-your-imagination First in a series of videos on Scott's first game, OS+R https://youtu.be/HaDi13UM21Y?si=dgRGHBnLRIDw6brd Scott and I discuss the film: Zero Charisma https://www.youtube.com/live/dVXKIX78DIQ?si=oeIvKiePEcTp_WMI My follow-up:https://youtu.be/X2TCg2cl9aI?si=PS_sEUrfL2wKmxYi Scott's recent video on Autotelic Engagement: https://youtu.be/qHVyFOYRPgo?si=Lcuf10VFaZfFaT2v Blog post summarizing my basic theory of "immersion" On Immersion and Engagement in RPG Play https://wp.me/pTI80-3ke A recent video from Bacon modelled on the above post and further exploring the points raised by Scott can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/live/iB_V-3V3KHc?si=7q83aGV8b93-Q_Mm You can contact me by e-mail at runescastshadows via gmail or by leaving a voice message through Speak Pipe. ⁠Send a voice message to CastingShadowsPodcast

    1h 4m

  7. JUL 30

    Friendly Chat about Scenario Design, Game Books, and #RPGaDAY2025

    I am joined by 3 friends that I am fortunate enough to game with regularly, Brian Courtemanche, Brian Gregory (Stochastic Agency on YouTube) and the indefatigable Ivan 'More Bass' Podgwaite. We discuss some gaming topics for quite awhile (made less through the magical power of editing) before diving into some off the cuff inspiration and improvisation with the first few prompts of #RPGaDAY2025. I hope you will join us and stick through to the end! You can find Ivan Podgwaite at ivanmike1968 on YouTube, where he talks about RPGs, playing bass, and life. You can find Brian Gregory at Stochastic Agency on YouTube where he talks about playing RPGs. You can find Brian Courtemanche on YouTube as well! So far, he has been reviewing short, light, takes on cosmic horror roleplay like the game he mentioned in this episode: Old Ones, Shoggoths, and R'lyeh. You can contact me by e-mail at runescastshadows via gmail or by leaving a voice message through Speak Pipe. Send a voice message to CastingShadowsPodcast Mentioned in this Episode: Roleplay Cafe + - YouTubeRPG with DBJ - YouTube

    1h 56m

  8. JUL 27

    On Interruptions, Others' Topics, and BRP~

    This episode possibly resumes more regular releases of the podcast while sharing thoughts on some topics I have missed recently and on that gem of a system, Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying. Casting Shadows Blog Send a voice message to CastingShadowsPodcast Runeslinger - YouTube

    30 min
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Runeslinger's podcast about roleplaying games, acting, reacting and interacting with the alchemy of play~ Visit the Casting Shadows blog at https://castingshadowsblog.com Visit us on YouTube at https://youtube.com/runeslinger or search for @Runeslinger For TwiXter, BlueSky, and Facebook: @Runeslinger Do you use Discord? Try me at Runeslinger#7592 Contact me via Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/CastingShadowsPodcast

Information

  • Creator
    Runeslinger
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    115
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Runeslinger
  • Show Website
    Casting Shadows

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